A Study of the Effect of Aqueous Extract of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn in Dye Decolorization and its Phytotoxicity Test Analysis on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Phaseolus vulgaris (Rajma) and Cicer arietinum (Chickpea).

Abstract

The increasing environmental pollution caused by synthetic dyes such as Congo red, malachite green, and methylene blue poses significant ecological and health risks due to their toxicity and recalcitrant nature. Traditional methods of dye degradation, including physical and chemical treatments, are often costly and generate secondary pollutants. In response to these challenges, biological approaches, particularly the use of plant extracts, offer a promising alternative due to their eco-effective and cost-effective characteristics. This study explores the potential of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn in the degradation of Congo red, malachite green, and methylene blue dyes. The phytochemical analysis of aqueous extract of P. maderaspatensis Linn revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds. The UV-Visible spectra of all the three dyes' degradation with time were seen maximum at specific wavelengths. Also, Congo red > methylene blue > malachite green showed the removal of dyes with variation in pH, time, and temperature. Experimental procedures involved treating dye solutions with varying concentrations of the plant extract under controlled conditions. The percentage of inhibition was calculated at regular intervals of time (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 24 h) at 80% aqueous extract solution with 95% Congo red dye degradation followed by malachite green and methylene blue. The results demonstrated significant decolorization and degradation of the dyes, with degradation rates exceeding 80% for all three dyes within 24 h. Furthermore, the experiment phytotoxicity test was performed and showed that the Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn aqueous extract was effective on Phaseolus vulgaris and Cicer arietinum to determine toxicity of dye on seedling growth and seed germination. The dye treated with 80% of plant extract showed higher germination percentage than the untreated dye. The study concludes that the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis exhibits substantial potential for degrading synthetic dyes, attributed to the synergistic action of its phytochemicals.